Raising Helen (2004)

Director: Garry Marshall
Writer: Story: Patrick J. Clifton, Beth Rigazio Screenplay: Jack Amiel, Michael Begler
Cast: Kate Hudson, Hayden Panettiere, Abigail Breslin, Spencer Breslin, Joan Cusack, John Corbett, Helen Mirren, Felicity Huffman
Genre: Drama, Rom-Com

Raising Helen tells the story of Helen Davis (Hudson), a single twenty-something party girl working at a model agency, who suddenly lose one of her two sisters to a car accident. According to their will, her dead sister and husband are leaving Helen in charge of their three children despite the third sister Jenny being the more adult and obvious choice.

The premise leaves it all wide open to the audience, and without managing to make us grow more fond of any of the main characters, Raising Helen becomes a forgettable and as predicted story it feels like we've seen several times before.

Hudson is charming enough, but lacks charisma to really embrace the part and make us care. Panettiere and Abigail Breslin really haven't got enough depth in their parts to do a lot, but it's nice to watch both in a movie from their pre-fame.